ADD 2, MARCH 20, 2019 — Two interesting things going on in Salt Lake City at the moment. Sen. Mitt Romney, no stranger to THE PLANET, gave what-for to President Donald Trump over Trump’s criticism of the late John McCain. Any man that can win major elections in The People’s Republic of Massachusetts and Brigham Young country has to have “it.” As for Trump’s comments on McCain, once again, the president’s penchant for speaking his mind stirs the pot. Politics can’t handle frankness, especially when it’s mixed with the honesty of one’s feelings. National politics, especially, requires the rhetorical filter so that one’s public remarks add up to many bland words but few sharp declarations. We don’t agree with Trump’s assessment of McCain, but we still love his refusal, perhaps it’s his inability, to ply it safe by tempering his words.

The other interesting thing in the Great Salt Lake is the Syracuse men’s basketball team appearance in the NCAA Division I tournament (what golfer Sam Snead used to call “toon-a-mint”). The Orange will win by playing shut-down “D” and getting enough on “O” from Ty Battle and uber-6th man Buddy Boeheim. Baylor wins by shooting out the lights from three-point range. As for the city itself, Salt Lake is a clean, well-lighted place (sorry, Ernie). Streets are sensibly laid out, and it’s easy to get around. It’s a little smaller in size that Syracuse but it still has that “small big-city” flavor. The 4,000-ft. elevation is not noticeable — unless you’re playing full court. That’s why Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim got the lads to SLC early in the week. March Madness is called the Big Dance, but we shall dance for spring, which arrives in the Northeast at 5:58 p.m. today.

On a final note, THE PLANET has learned of the death of a notable past Pittsfield political figure, with whom we had plenty of dealings. The family has asked for privacy, and we shall respect that until public word is either issued or leaks out elsewhere. We did want to convey our deep condolences and god-speed.

———- 000 ———-

ADD 1 FROM SOMEWHERE OVER THE SKIES TOWARD SALT LAKE CITY, TUESDAY 3-19-19 FEAST OF ST. JOSEPH — Thank you Thomas More, one of this site’ most valued participants. He referred us to an article in iBerkshires about the latest grad for handouts from the “gimme groups.” They’re after $1 million in Community Preservation Act money. Problem: There’s only a little more than $600K. THE PLANET predicts that among those who will get the dough will be:

The pickleball courts at Springside Park.

The group wanting design plans for the renovation of the Munster Mansion at Springside Park. Problem here isn’t with the house. It’s with the busybodies behind this push, who have turned an otherwise worthy affair into a tarpit of slimy politics. The roster includes the same tired names that are always trying to suck up with The Powers in town. Lord help us.

Money for renovating the dugouts and new lighting at the Doyle Softball Complex on Benedict Road.

With all the problems facing the city, these are the items of priority. Taxpayers should remember that the pool of money for the CPAA comes from a 1% surcharge (“DON’T CALL IT A TAX HIKE” — Matt Kerwood) robbed from your pockets as attached to your property tax bills. You had NO SAY in that 1% added tax. Oh, sure, the pols will tell you that you “voted” on it, but that was that was never on the up and up.

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY MARCH 18, 20019) — Spring break is here, and THE PLANET will be on it. We shall board the break as one would do hopping a freight train, running to match its speed and jumping in the first open door we see. First a few open thoughts about matters of the day:

If you’re posting a comment and it doesn’t appear immediately, don’t panic. It has been assigned to moderation. It’s part of improved security for the site to keep the contributions at the highest level we can. It’s not so easy on the internet.

The shootings in New Zealand speak for themselves, of course, in the somber toll of dead and wounded. Senseless as they are, we can’t help but think it borderline miraculous that more of these don’t happen. It testifies that people are good at heart and also to the vulnerability we have as members of a society, networked as we are.

Lowering the voting age makes no sense for a number of reasons. First that pops into THE PLANET‘s noggin? Young people’s lack of knowledge about government, the Constitution, and civics in general. See, the geniuses who run public school systems got rid of civics and also home economics, another vital core of knowledge, in favor of feel-good-about-yourself B.S.

If anything, the voting age should be raised to 25, the age at which the human brain reaches maturity regarding decision making. Only “adults” should vote.

As for the act itself, any election that fails to draw 50%+1 of the electorate should be deemed void. If we continue to pretend that low turnouts are representative, we will be stuck with the present form of one-party steamrolling that’s sunk the city of Pittsfield.

Another reform: Every ballot should have a “None of the Above” option.

Jason “JIV” McCandless needs $6 million additional dollars for Pittsfield Public Schools like Earl Persip needs a loaf of Wonderbread. Rewarding failure has become the norm for the school department, whose budget has destroyed city government’s ability to light its streets, keep those streets safe, provide safe roads, and other such items.

No contemplation for office should be without an ample supply of lawn signs.

On April 1, nomination papers become available for anyone wishing to run for office. Papers come with a new requirement, that candidates must at all times display a “Kick Me” sign taped to their backs.

Running for office in Pittsfield is like … THE PLANET isn’t sure what its like, actually, except that “it lies somewhere between the pit of a person’s fear and the summit of their knowledge.”

The Red Sox won the World Series, then the Patriots won the Super Bowl. With both the Celtics and Bruins heading to their respective playoffs, is it just plain greedy to want a Foursome of World Titles?

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“Nearly every house that’s been a home has had the kitchen as its heart” — Sir Tiberius Fruitjuice.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION MARCH 15-17, 2019) — Wither, PEDA? Or perhaps THE PLANET can better phrase it as a declarative sentence: Whither, PEDA.

“Whither, vb1: to shrivel; 2 to lose or cause to lose or cause to lose vitality, force, or freshness” (Webster’s New American Dictionary).

It’s been 21 years since the birth of the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority, created as part of the settlement with General Electric for the company’s 100 years of polluting the city while providing unparalleled prosperity that ended in the early 90s. The company got pennies to the dollar, taking the city to the cleaners (except for its environment) and giving $10 million hush money ostensibly for economic development and tax relief.

In the score and one, PEDA has precious little to show for its stewardship of the 52 acres of the former GE campus, ranking as a colossal bust. Here’s a current look at PEDA:

Corydon Thurston is still the director, even though he said he would step down in May 2017. Board members say he makes “almost no appearances” in the PEDA office, but still gets his $75,000 plus bennies.

Thurston, you recall, is the guy who championed Pat Muraca and Nuclea. Tells you all you need to know about his business acumen, if not his sense of ethics and his judge of horseflesh.

How much is PEDA working for the economic development of the city? The boards conducted no meeting in January. It canceled its February meeting. There are no meetings scheduled for March, May, or July.

According to its website, the board’s most recent “presentation” was May 19, 2015.

When PEDA announced groundbreaking for the BIC center on East Street, it told us the building’s purpose: To “catalyze and accelerate innovation and growth on new and existing companies that will spur economic growth, job creation, retention[,] and investment in Western Mass.” What does that scrambled hash mean? Who writes such nonsense?

The BIC, initially pegged at $3 million, will come in at nearly $14 million. It’s all public money, but not once has the board of directors explained what return taxpayers can expect.

PEDA’s website is hopelessly out of date, keeping in place a 21-year history of secrecy.

The funniest part of the website is the link for PEDA’s board of directors. These sad sacks ostensibly represent the crème de la creme of the city’s business community. These mugs look more like the creme de la crumb. Take a look. You’ll especially love when your mouse rests over a picture of Mike Filpi and identifies him as “Mick Callahan.”

Study this mug. It has “Pittsfield ‘Leader'” written all over it. Was he separated at birth from barrister “Won’t You Come Home” Bill Barry? Can you imagine

MIKE FILPI (PHOTO: PEDA Website)

business leaders from outside Pittsfield doing due diligence and gazing upon the “What, Me Worry” head of Laborer’s Local #473? Do you think they would be more or less likely to want to get involved with Pittsfield? Is it the face of confidence, of the type of assurance and acumen that would calm the concerns of companies thinking about taking the bold actions required for private investment? The face of aphonia, grinning the turnip-truck smile because “he’s made it.” He’s on the PEDA board!! The loosened tie. The obtuse profile that looks like a jest without a punchline, just a punch … or a blocked punt. Such are the subtleties Pittsfield “leaders” refuse to acknowledge let alone address, illustrated none better than the two-decades of flops from the brain trust of successive PEDA boards.

The docility of the Pittsfield community over such a sad state of affairs never ceases to amaze. THE PLANET wonder when will some elected official demand an accounting of the PEDA travesty.

Have a good weekend, everybody.

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“I like to make up lists or words and group them together when they were related to one another” — English physician Peter Roget.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY MARCH 13, 2016) — With current poverty levels, high welfare incidence, and the public treasury open for the “gimme groups,” Pittsfield has long been operating under a socialist system. It may be called something else, but “a rose by any other name” …

Thus, when the city council’s committee on community and economic development took up Mayor Linda Tyer’s proposed home-repair giveaway of another $250,000 from the GE settlement fund, committee members members gave unanimous consent. That’s how one-party systems operate. No honest debate. Little discussion. The committee’s apparatchiks, operating under the 7-iron of chairman Nick Caccamo, got out the rubber stamp. It was all “Home, Home on the Range” from there. You know, “where never is heard a discouraging word.” That’s how it sits in socialist utopias.

Tyer’s request represents the latest abuse of the $10 million, those 30 pieces of silver Pittsfield accepted from GE in exchange for letting the company off the hook for polluting land, water, and air. The money was to be used for (a) tax relief and (b) economic development. It took Elastic Man from DC Comics, Marcel Marceau, and “Stretch” McCovey to argue that taxpayer-funded home improvements for private home owners would qualify as (b). Yet wading through the city council packet, that’s what Tyer and Community Development director Deanna Ruffer claim.

Ruffer estimated that home assessments will rise 7 to 12% after the work is done, bringing in more to the general fund. Let’s do something risky. Let’s take Ruffer at her word. What do you get? A tax-hike scheme, pure and simple. We would only advise homeowners who apply for the repair money to read the contract three times and hire a cheap lawyer before signing this Trojan-Horse deal.

For Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski, who would never think upkeep of their home was Big Government’s responsibility, the program will end up bringing more financial pressure. Just what they need. Here’s how it works:

If you make $87,480 or less, you qualify.

Deferred-payment loans (DPL) will be made using GE settlement money and/or private equity from one of four participating local financial institutions (Lee Bank, Berkshire Bank, Greylock Federal Credit Union, and the Pittsfield Co-Op Bank; THE PLANET wonders if council president Peter Marchetti recused himself from the vote Tuesday night [March 12]. Marchetti works for the Co-Op).

These will be 0% interest loans requiring”no monthly repayment.”

Payment is due when the homeowner vacates the property or transfers the obligation to the new owner.

Ruffer’s office will administer the DPL program.

———- ooo ———-

In addition to a blatant misuse of the GE funds, the program has one other rotten kicker. The fine print in the enabling documents contains a “no payback” clause: “The city is exploring options that would allow for the forgiveness of a portion or all” of a loan’s value. It apparently never occurred to Caccamo or the other three committee bobble heads to clarify this language and the city’s intent.

Dum-de-dum-dum.

You know, THE PLANET knows, Judge Crater knows that we’re talking “free money.” You can bet your bottom tuppence that this language will not only be included but enacted, meaning that the city will be able to forgive as many of the loans as it wishes. When this happens, you know who will be on the hook for the full amount?

Gotta mirror?

The wording allows the city to forgive or not forgive on a whim. If you have “connections,” if you “know someone who knows someone,” if you donated to the correct political campaigns, that’s good news. You’ll get free money and not worry about repaying a dime. If you’re just another honest, hard-working taxpayer without any inside chit, you’ll be in debtor’s jail if you don’t cough up every cent.

There’s also one other sneak provision in the documents. Homeowners living on the West Side or Morningside will not be required to go through any of the four private banks. Private equity, see, likes to do its homework. It likes to actually vet loan applicants. If they’re deemed bad risks, they don’t get the dough. From this we can safely conclude the city anticipates giving “don’t ask/don’t tell” dollars to unqualified homeowners. When you realize also that Ruffer tilted the scales in favor of the Tyler Street redevelopment initiatives, you have what amounts to a crooked deck. Is this discriminatory provision an attempt to win votes in November? Remember, Ruffer serves solely at the discretion of the mayor; her job depends on Tyer’s re-election.

The full council was scheduled to vote on this Tuesday night. As of press time, THE PLANET had no word of the vote. We’re sure that as the day passes, our superb commentators will fill us in on what happened.

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“It’s not the high price of talent that bothers me about professional sports. It’s the high price of mediocrity” — Sir Tiberius Fruitjuice.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY MARCH 11, 2019) — Will he run? Will she run?

Two simple questions with complicated answers.

“He” is Joe Biden and the 2020 presidential election. “She” is Melissa Mazzeo as she considers a run for mayor. For both, the time might be right, the stars aligned, and the planets — to say nothing of THE PLANET— might be in their required orbits. Keep in mind that these points do not represent endorsement but analysis.

THE CASE FOR BIDEN:

He’s a product of Syracuse University. OK, THE PLANET admits to a certain bias here.

He would be the sole centrist among Democrats who have declared. The rest only guarantee a Trump re-election.

He has enough gravitas to heal his fractured party.

Biden has solid credentials with respect to economics and foreign policy.

He was a “heartbeat away” from the Oval Office for eight years

According to the Wall Street Journal, “Biden is ahead or near the top of the polls,” though he hasn’t even declared.

A few days ago, he told “a hometown audience” that “The most important people in my life want me to run.” His family’s all in.

No one can match Biden’s “vast reservoir of good will within the party.”

He is viewed “as his party’s best chance to win back Midwestern states” that Hillary Clinton lost to Trump in 2016 (WSJ).

Biden is interviewing potential staff and donors.

He has asked his team to come up with a list of policy advisers.

His “points of reference” are pre-millennial and “hark back to an era of bipartisan cooperation that hasn’t been in effect in Washington in a generation.”

He possesses the “likeable” factor in spades.

He has a compelling personal story of triumph over adversity.

THE PLANET says: Biden will run for the presidency.

———- ooo ———-

THE CASE FOR MAZZEO

She has authentic Pittsfield bonafides.

She has as much name recognition as anyone who might run for mayor this year, including Linda Tyer.

Mazzeo, like Tyer, comes from machine politics. The former DelGallo-now-Ruberto machine (Tyer) and the Wojtkowski-Bianchi machine (Mazzeo) have controlled elections dating back at least to Evan Dobelle, alternating victors and vanquished. Machines provide built-in organization, financing, and backing.

Mazzeo has years of experience as councilor-at-large, a citywide office.

She served a term as council president.

She’s smart enough to have learned from the mistakes she made in that leadership role.

She’s good on the stump.

She grasps the issues.

She’s not afraid to rock the boat, as her comments on the GE Consent Decree illustrate.

Like Tyer, she has an influential, well-known spouse who will be an asset on the campaign trail

Judging by interest shown on THE PLANET and her comment below, there is a significant cache of voters who want her to run.

As a woman, Mazzeo neutralizes the gender aspect, sure to come up in the campaign if Tyer faces a man.

Mazzeo can count on key council allies, notably Chris Connell and Kevin Morandi.

A Tyer-Mazzeo final would set up a heavyweight bout that would increase turnout.

A Tyer-Mazzeo fight would be viewed by supporters of Paul Caccaviello as a proxy for the Cacc-Harrington D.A. slugfest. The Cacc-Capeless camp could have a large impact on a close race.

Add the four-year factor. If she doesn’t do it now, there’s another four-year wait.

Over the weekend, Mazzeo told THE PLANET: “I can’t tell you how often I get asked [are you running for mayor] EVERY DAY!! I am collecting a lot of data, because I’m not here to run for mayor just to run for mayor. This is about how Pittsfield is working, and is it working for everyone? It doesn’t feel like it is, but I don’t want to approach an election based on anecdotes. I’m really trying to understand how residents are feeling about their lives in Pittsfield and how city leadership is helping that or hurting it. If my neighbors and our neighborhoods feel well-served by this administration, then that would be enough for me.”

THE PLANET says: Mazzeo will run for mayor.

Your thoughts, as always, will be appreciated.

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“It gets late early out there” — Yogi Berra, explaining a key error in the World Series when he lost a ball in old Yankee Stadium’s notorious October left-field sun.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION MARCH 8-10, 2019) — Last week, The Wall Street Journal ran a weekend column by Lance Morrow. Morrow used the case of Jessie Smollet to identify something he called “a self-sentimentalizing narrative of persecuted innocence.” He said “Smollet’s story was even dumber than Tawana Brawley’s tale of racially motivated gang rape, and if fell apart much faster. The shoe bomber was more competent.”

That didn’t stop a “Pavlovian” response from political opportunists using Smollet’s story to spout “not the details … but rather the generalized claims of ‘racism’ and ‘homophobia'” — Smollett, if you don’t know, is black and gay.

We’re only talking here about the edge-of-the world far left, not the centrist left of Joe Biden, the Democrats’ only shot at defeating Donald Trump in 2020. Sens. Kamala Harris and Cory Booker, for example, quickly embraced Smollett’s cry of “Wolf!” They and others “have discovered how effective it is to sentimentalize the politics of race and sexuality. The very words ‘racist’ and ‘homophobic’ now possess a generalized and imprecise political power that is careless of the truth or falsehood of one particular case or another and may be lobbed against the enemy like artillery shells. The false victim — Mr. Smollett, for example — is attracted by the radiant power of blamelessness.”

———- ooo ———-

This trenchant observation on moral sentimentality — which is, of course, amoral — and how the extreme left excoriates anyone who disagrees, reminds THE PLANET of something troubling in Pittsfield.

Come on down, Drew Herzig.

Herzig chairs the Human Rights Commission, Pittsfield’s most dysfunctional agency, a top-heavy, tottering, reverse monument to hatred, gender bias, and racism. He arrived in the city with his husband via Sacramento, Calif., and Astoria, Ore., where he quit his term on the city council. Herzig landed in Pittsfield to practice his out-of-touch brand of budinsky “activism.”

Want to know what a walking hyperbola looks like? He told striking BMC nurses that they were part of “the greatest resistance movement this country has ever seen.” Apparently, he doesn’t know of Goodman, Schwerner, and Chaney, and hasn’t heard of Malcolm X, King, or Rosa Parks.

Herzig shows up like mold. He piloted the mayor’s Citizen’s Academy, has both thumbs stuck up something called Indivisible Pittsfield, and lurks under the rocks of every radical leftist activity in the city. He’s on record as being against the state’s Open Meeting policy, objecting when he found that he couldn’t conduct HRC meetings in secret, you know, like Uncle Joe Stalin’s secret tribunals.

Under Herzig’s rickety chair, the HRC has dissolved into a swampy mess requiring fanatic adherence to an rigid, ideological set of unwritten rules. The group has gone from dysfunction to dismemberment, from confusion to chaos, from sham to shambles. Two more members have resigned, and if prospects for the two vacancies don’t worship at the politically correct altar of LGBTQIA, they needn’t bother, for those seem to be the only letters in Herzig’s truncated alphabet.

———- ooo ———-

The latest Herzig blunder came when he introduced a petition calling on Pittsfield to condemn “white supremacy, white nationalism, and anti-Semitism.” The city is drowning in debt. It’s taxing homeowners and businesses out of existence. Drugs, crime, and violence have spun out of control. Schools are broken. These and countless other problems weight down daily life for ordinary, honest, hard-working people, but Herzig evidently doesn’t care about Mary Jane and Joe Kapanski.

Fortunately, the committee’s most influential member fought back. THE PLANET‘s Right Honorable Good Friend Peter Marchetti objected to the petition, calling it a crusade meant to demonize entire groups of innocent people. Heated as it was in public, sources say the two men have continued battling outside the ring, leaving the HRC so confused it can’t even agree on times and dates for meetings. This is not Marchetti’s fault, who showed guts in calling out Herzig. It’s on Herzig, who, carrying on his petulant fight elsewhere, blasted the City Council “for not supporting human rights” via the School Committee’s incredibly stupid policy change on Columbus Day.

In Pittsfield, there’s no more Columbus Day. There’s Indigenous People’s Day. This culturally deaf move branded the city’s entire Italian population as entitled, patriarchal, white European racists. The mayor and the city wants to talk “cultural competency?” Then how about condemning Herzig for throwing a bucket of steaming shit over the city’s Italian-American community?

Herzig creates “victims.” He sidesteps issues. He deals in a political brand of moral sentimentality that, ironically, locks its adherents into victimhood. Citizens can’t afford to keep a person like this in political circulation. He represents a type of low-hanging political fruit that calls to mind Eve’s apple.

We all know how that turned out.

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“You’re only a victim if you believe you’re a victim” — Sir Tiberius Fruitjuice.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.

]]>http://planetvalenti.com/2019/03/theres-a-poison-thats-seeped-into-the-citys-bloodstream-moral-sentimentality-of-hrc-chairman-explodes-into-fight-with-marchetti/feed/77THE ‘FORGOTTEN FREEDOM”: A NEW ARMS RACE IS ONE RACE NO ONE WILL OR CAN WINhttp://planetvalenti.com/2019/03/the-forgotten-freedom-a-new-arms-race-is-one-race-no-one-will-or-can-win/
http://planetvalenti.com/2019/03/the-forgotten-freedom-a-new-arms-race-is-one-race-no-one-will-or-can-win/#commentsWed, 06 Mar 2019 02:47:23 +0000http://planetvalenti.com/?p=18271BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY MARCH 6, 2019) — On Feb. 1, President Donald Trump pulled America out of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF), a deal that has been in place since 1987. In June, Trump announced the creation of a U.S. Space Force. Both have had serious repercussions, which is like saying that sunlight gives off heat and light. We too take that for granted.

We have grown immune to the horrific presence of nuclear weapons. It’s been 74 years since the United States dropped Little Boy and Fat Man on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We can debate forever whether President Truman made the right call, particularly with respect to the detonation over Nagasaki. The damned weapons haven’t been used in anger since. One thing stands out, though. Since that time, we have lived under an authentic and legitimate threat of total annihilation as the nuclear djinn escaped its bottle. The bombs proliferated and got smaller. The technology has kept pace. Moreover, humanity has never made a weapon it did not use or use again.

THE PLANET recalls as a lad being fascinated as Khrushchev and Kennedy signed the nuclear test-ban treaty in ’63. The sweet air of hope tasted particularly good coming as it did so soon after the October Missile Crisis, the closest we’ve come to the unthinkable. In 1987, President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev shook hands on the INF. Two years later, the Berlin Wall came down with Soviet Russia following not long after. Again, one could taste the hope.

Now it seems belligerence is back. Seems. We can’t be sure if this new Trump-Putin pas de deux of “Can You Top This” can be taken at face value. Are the two men genuine warmongers, or are they engaged in an act? We can’t say. What we can conclude is that we have a new arms race on our hands. Trump pulled out of the INF on Feb. 1. Putin followed a month and change later. The most troubling aspect relates to the missiles themselves. The INF was meant to control “intermediate” missiles, those with a range of 310 miles to 3,417 miles. War gamers and strategists say these are the ones most likely to be used first.

“All the actions may lead to an escalation of the military-political situation and the emergence of new threats which [sic] Russian will have to respond [to] with reciprocal and asymmetric measures,” said Valery Gerasimov, Russia’s First Deputy Defense Minister. As THE PLANET reads it, the key word is “asymmetric.” The word means that Russia reserves the right to respond disproportionately, as in, “You build one? We’ll build two. You build two? We’ll build three or four.” And the race is on.

Putin, a student of history, has to realize such a response would guarantee another loss. Keeping up with the Joneses the first time around put so much strain on the Soviet economy that the center could not hold. It’s hard to imagine a sharpie like Putin making that mistake. If so, then what’s truly going on with this dangerous game? Could it be nothing more than a napalm mix of ego and politics? This new build-up strokes the “strongman” in each man’s makeup. At the same time, it allows him to play to a respective base that cherishes “peace through strength,” a spotty strategy that, while it has kept the Big One from going off, has nonetheless not prevented continuous and continual war.

To be safe from of this type of dangerous build-up is one of the “forgotten freedoms” everyone on earth should possess.

Ah, but that it were so.

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“The best things in life are free — or available on easy terms” — Sir Tiberius Fruitjuice.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

Love to All.

The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY MARCH 4, 2019) — Apropos of nothing but dipping from everything:

Rico — Watching Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen, it occurred to THE PLANET that he looked and sounded like former Red Sox shortstop-3b Rico Petrocelli if you took about 25 years off Rico. We had the pleasure of knowing Rico back in our days as a baseball writer. If Cohen is anything like Rico, he’ll do okay on his road to redemption.

#They Too — During the Cohen hearing, we got a chance to see the freshwomen in action, including Rashid Tlaib and Alexandria Ocascio-Cortez. They, along with the other ascendant, young (and youngish) women presently splitting the Democrats in two, “have come a long way, baby” in taking their place alongside the men. Forget the politics. Concentrate on the behaviors. They deserve equal rights. In this case, they’ve proven every bit as ambitious, power hungry, publicity seeking, and close-minded as the fellas. As for duplicity, pettiness, and plain nasty, they exceed their male counterparts.

Shaken and Stirred — Every once in a while we get the “Hey, you look just like …” bit. In THE PLANET‘s case at this stage, we hear “Sean Connery.” In earlier years, we got Dick Cavett and George Carlin among others. Funny, because we think we look like us. Well, it’s now

official. At a recent hockey game in the recently remodeled War Memorial Arena in Syracuse, N.Y., involving the Syracuse Crunch (Triple A affiliate of the Tampa Bay Lightning) and the Lavel Rocket (Montreal Canadiens), the camera caught us in the box and beamed our mug to a sold-out crowd. They went wild, of course. For the rest of the night, we endured an endless stream of Bond references. The recent multimillion dollar makeover of the arena — where back in the day we saw bands such as Queen nd Jethro Tull, singers such as Sinatra and Elvis — has the old barn in fantastic shape. Better sight lines, luxury boxes, and improved amenities. It exemplifies the incredible “renaissance” (to use a word familiar in Pittsfield, but with zero irony in the meaning) taking place all over town. Back to the War Memorial. Among the barn’s championship banners, we find one for the Syracuse Nationals, who won the NBA crown in 1955. Each game there, we encounter the ghosts of Red, Russell, Cousy, Heinson, Shayes, Wilt, Mikan, Robertson, Baylor, and more. It’s amazing to think a world title in one of the four majors was won there. Reminds us of one October at Hellenic College, at Celtics training camp. THE PLANET asked Red Auerbach about the toughest crowds back in the old NBA. “Syracuse,” he answered, without hesitation.

Speaking of ‘Renaissance’ — President Trump wasn’t kidding when he said if peace can be achieved on the Korean peninsula, the DPRNK could enjoy a prosperous future. One thinks of post-WWII Japan and Germany or Vietnam after the U.S. pullout in 1975. These countries were left ruined. Today, they enjoy great affluence. The DPRNK would be starting from scratch. All the better, blank slate and all. With global markets and technology, the country’s rise to a halcyon tomorrow could have it there among Pacific Rim leaders. The greatest obstacle would be the country’s worship of the Kim dynasty. He’d have to admit he’s nothing but a man and his father didn’t shoot 37 with 11 holes-in-one the first time he ever handled a golf club.

Political Wrongs Commission — For the way it has turned civil rights into partisanship and politics, Pittsfield’s Human Rights Commission should never have been revived. It foments the very racism and division it ostensibly fights. The HRC embodies and encapsulates all that is wrong with Pittsfield politics: favoritism, self-righteousness, vindictiveness, victimization, insularity, close-mindedness. No one with a legitimate claim would go before this group, the worst city agency. That includes the Pittsfield School Committee. A decommissioning is in order. FYI, members are Antonia Buckley, Kathie Penna, Peter Marchetti, Sopheap Nhim, chair Drew Herzig, Jessica Christensen, and Marietta Rapetti Cawse. Both the clerk’s position and a membership remain vacant, which tells you all you need to know. The carpetbagging Herzig left California for Oregon in the late 2000s, booked Oregon for Pittsfield in 2016, walking out of a term as city councilor. In our book, that’s a quitter.

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“Hit ’em where they ain’t” — Wee Willie Keeler.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, THE WEEKEND EDITION MARCH 1-3, 2019) — THE PLANET watched enthralled as two unprecedented demonstrations of high political theater played out on the global stage. We refer to the second meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean Chairman Kim Jung Un, as well as the testimony by Michael Cohen, Trump’s former personal attorney, before the House Oversight Committee.

We could write prose tomes on either or each, but we shall be brief on both so that we may present a guest editorial on the Cohen hearing.

TRUMP-KIM II

In terms of results, it wasn’t the Thrilla in Manila or even the Ploy in Hanoi. Those quick to point out the failure of the meeting to produce a signed agreement forget the unprecedented nature of the President’s visit. As a foreign policy initiative, Trump’s dialogues with Kim rival Richard Nixon’s overtures to Mao in China. That these two men are even talking stands as remarkable progress toward the goal of a unified, peaceful, and prosperous Korean peninsula. Given the hostilities that have existed between the two nations for so long, any expectation for a quick solution belongs in Disney’s Fantasyland.

Kim wanted full removal of the U.S. sanctions. Trump wanted complete denuclearization by the DPRNK. The two sides were unable to reach middle ground. In actuality, major agreements of this type typically happen well in advance. Teams of negotiators first hammer out the terms, and the leaders swoop in at the end to shake hands, smile, sign documents, toast each other, and depart. Stephen Biegun, Trump’s special envoy to the DPRNK and his counterpart did not have enough time for the advance work. Therefore, it’s a big deal that the two men each risked talks without certainties safely in place.

This was a win for both sides. Trump didn’t fold. As he said, “Sometimes, you have to walk.” North Korea views that as strength. Trump has earned Kim’s respect. That could pay off big time down the road. Kim, likewise, has a much better sense of the person with whom he is dealing. He knows know what he didn’t know the first time they met in Singapore: He has a serious negotiator partner.

The summit did achieve a few notables:

Kim agreed to a moratorium on nuclear testing.

Kim also agreed to freeze production of nuclear fuel at the Yongbyon plant.

The two leaders built upon the goodwill sown last June in Singapore.

The talks remain open.

Given the state of tensions not that long ago, these are remarkable achievements.

———- 000 ———-

COHEN TALKS

Michael Cohen’s testimony before the House Oversight Committee providing a riveting marathon of political drama. THE PLANET watched the hearing in its entirety. The two sides of the aisle performed as predicted. Democrats thanked Cohen for his remarks and accepted his remorse as genuine. Republicans painted him as a convicted felon and liar who will in May be going to prison for three years, a man who could not be believed.

Cohen struck us as truthful and cooperative. It’s rare in these types of hearings to hear direct answers, the kind Cohen delivered all day. As he admitted to the committee, as the “fixer” for Trump in his personal dealings, he acted unethically and illegally out of loyalty to the man who was his employer for 10 years. He got caught and has paid a heavy price. Cohen’s going to jail, his reputation is in tatters, he lost his law license, his family has been put under intense stress, he lost a vast amount of money, and friends have left him. He had nothing more to lose after getting assurances from the committee of protection for his family. He’s a man who knows Trump plays to win at all costs, and he knows what that could mean.

No one knows what’s in a man’s soul. Cohen could have been lying once more. Based on what we saw at the hearing, this looks like a man who has owned his crimes, regrets his mistakes, and wants reparation. As chairman Elijah Cummings noted in his brilliant closing remarks, what kind of a country would we be, what kind of a people would we be, if you don’t allow second chances to those who sincerely want to make amends?

During the lunch break of Michael Cohen’s (the other one) testimony to the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday, I reached out to an old friend, who is a Democratic political consultant, to get his reaction.

His sense, like mine, was that while Cohen’s litany of Trumpian abuses was compelling and disturbing, it probably hadn’t done much to move the political needle. Both of us were momentarily in awe at our cynical, yet realistic response to the day’s proceedings.

It laid bare the fundamental dilemma of the Trump era: the normalization of his brazen criminality and the complicity of Republicans who refuse to hold the president accountable for his actions.

To quote Cohen, President Trump’s former personal attorney, there resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue a “racist, a con man and a cheat.” This isn’t news, but to hear it out of the mouth of a man who had worked intimately with Trump for a decade made it even more disturbing.

During the testimony, we heard that the president may have been alerted to the Wikileaks dump of DNC e-mails by Roger Stone. Cohen made clear that the president was an active participant in a criminal conspiracy to cover-up the payment of hush money to Stormy Daniels — a conspiracy that continued even after he took office. Moreover, Cohen suggested that Trump, along with potentially his lawyers, may have suborned perjury in encouraging Cohen to lie to Congress about the status of a Trump real estate project in Russia.

There were other allegations of insurance fraud, tax evasion, and false statements to the special counsel by the president. Cohen even intimated that Trump knew about the infamous Trump Tower meeting between Russian officals, his son, Don Jr., son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and former campaign manager Paul Manafort.

In short, Cohen’s testimony laid out a pattern of criminality and law-breaking by the president — both before and after his election — that is practically unprecedented in the more than two century history of the American presidency.

And Republican members of Congress could have cared less.

Not one expressed even the slightest concern about the overwhelming evidence that the president has broken the law. Tellingly, few bothered to defend his actions, instead spending their five minutes of questions hurling invectives at Cohen. Ranking Republican member Jim Jordan was particularly hysterical, calling Cohen a “fraudster, cheat, convicted felon and, in two months, a federal inmate.”

Others repeatedly suggested that Cohen is angling for a book or movie deal; that he was lashing out at Trump over bitterness at not being given a plum White House job and, above all, that Cohen cannot be trusted because he’s already pleaded guilty to lying to Congress.

Yet, for all of Cohen’s obvious vulnerabilities as a witness (and his unsympathetic nature), he came across as oddly credible. After all, he was practically the sole person in the hearing room actually willing to defend the president. Indeed, there was something quite strange about listening to Republican after Republican attack Cohen’s credibility, at the same time that he was playing down allegations of Russian collusion against Trump and dismissing the most outlandish and salacious accusations made about the president. Repeatedly, he shot down Democratic conspiracy theories and narrowly focused his allegations against Trump to what he knew, not what he might have suspected.

All of this is more disconcerting when one considers that the attacks on Cohen’s honesty were in defense of a president who lies incessantly. Such is the morally and ethically diminished public careers of Republican politicians who are more focused on maintaining the loyalty of Trump’s cult-like following than upholding their oath of office to support and defend the Constitution.

At the end of the day, truth is the least of the GOP’s concerns. All that matters, it seemed, is carrying water for a president, described by a man who knows him far better than any member of Congress, as ungenerous, unkind, disloyal, and ultimately corrupting.

Indeed, the most telling moment of the hearing came when Cohen turned to the Republican side of the committee room and said, “I’m responsible for your silliness because I did the same thing that you’re doing now for 10 years. I protected Mr. Trump for 10 years. The more people that follow Mr. Trump as I did blindly are going to suffer the same consequences that I’m suffering.”

After watching the appalling performance of complicit Republicans one not only imagines that Cohen is correct — one also hopes so.

———- ooo ———-

Have a great weekend, everybody.

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“Art is your loudest voice” — Charlie Sam

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, WEDNESDAY FEB. 27, 2019) — Today marks THE PLANET‘s 1,900th column on this board. What started out as a simple writing exercise blossomed into Berkshire County’s most read site. It’s still an exercise that serves its workout purpose, and we still enjoy the intellectual and rhetorical challenge of coming up with new material on what can seem a relentless basis.

We can think of only two reason to discontinue THE PLANET: (1) Workload (bread-and-butter stuff takes precedence) or (2) We are no longer having fun or enjoyment. As for one, fortunately, technology allows us to ply our wares anywhere on earth. In the old days, we had to travel “there.” Today, we don’t have to “be” anywhere. Two (2) could happen tomorrow or years from now. In truth, at times researching, writing, editing, and publishing THE PLANET can seem a drag, but not often. Besides, as our form of public service, it helps keep the conscience clean!

In honor of our 1,900th, we open up The Comment Line to you, our valued readers. THE PLANET remains an important link for We The People to their community, their government, their daily lives. It is, for many, their morning “cuppa joe,” their sounding board, a chance to share and exchange viewpoints. True, this being cyberspace, the level of “debate” often does not rise above day-old yeast, but there’s enough good reader contributions to keep that vital feedback feature. We are proud to be the unrivaled local home for free speech, and our vigilance in weeding out the occasional foolishness has kept our comments section a model of how it is to be done in this photonic format.

THE PLANET remains free of commercial, communal, or governmental restraint. It is enterprise writing, commentary, and muck-raking journalism in its purest form. We probably have doled out more sleepless night to politicians and The Suits than an ocean of No-Doz pills, although that is never our intention. Such anxiousness, if and when it happens, exists only as an ancillary effect of our main pursuit, which is the good-faith tracking, discovery, and uncovery of stories, issues, and concerns that swirl about.

THE PLANET never has and never will “go after” anyone. The only thing we “go after” is truth. We write what we like, and like what we write, following our instincts and interests as curiosity bids.

With that as preamble and with all good blessings, we turn the discussion over to you.

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“Both quack medicine and the Internet were born when the first knave met the first fool” — Sir Tiberius Fruitjuice.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.

]]>http://planetvalenti.com/2019/02/the-planet-hits-1900/feed/75COMMUNISM, CAPITALISM, AND SOCIALISM: LIFE IN THE RIGHT MIDDLEhttp://planetvalenti.com/2019/02/communism-capitalism-and-socialism-life-in-the-right-middle/
http://planetvalenti.com/2019/02/communism-capitalism-and-socialism-life-in-the-right-middle/#commentsSun, 24 Feb 2019 17:05:35 +0000http://planetvalenti.com/?p=17343

BY DAN VALENTI

PLANET VALENTI NEWS AND COMMENTARY

(FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE, MONDAY FEB. 25, 2019) — This year, with ideologues such as Alexandria Ocascio-Cotez, Kamala Harris, and Bernie Sanders presidentially chirping from the extreme left-leaning branches, THE PLANET offers a few thoughts on a topic often mentioned by commentators on this board when debating the merits and demerits of socialism and capitalism. These musings are by no means exhaustive, nor are they complete. We offer them as the tinder to spark the flames of discussion.

———- ooo ———-

Such organizational systems were the inevitable offspring of civilization. Once people began leaving the hostilities of competing and warring small tribes to form true communities, it quickly became clear that some form of corporate organization of power (politics) and production (capital) would be necessary. No one sat down to invent these systems. Rather, they were given birth by social necessity and evolved according to social need.

Communal consideration requires a huge amount of individual surrender, since no one or two or any small number of people can provide the products and services needed to sustain a village, town, or city. Humans inherently crave freedom, but only after the basic needs of food, drink, shelter, safety, and clothing have been addressed. That provides the essence of the communism v. capitalism debate. How much freedom should the individual have? How much security should the State impose?

Communism puts the group over the person with the promise of security. Capitalism elevates the person over the group with the pledge of liberty. In each, there has to be compromise, because pure systems don’t work in “real life.” In some ways, China is more capitalistic that America, and the U.S. is more socialistic than China.

The systemic left-to-right range covers full-flown communism from the left and all-out capitalism from the right. Complete group control or no group control. In the middle, we find socialism. In their purest form, which only exists in theory, communism touts central planning without local input; capitalism offers individual enterprise free from governmental constraints, the only control being provided by the free market. Both pure forms are unrealistic in practicality. They exist without blemish on the flipchart or whiteboard, but when implemented, they fail, as any good reading of history shows. They fail because of greed.

Authentic communism, the kind practiced by the early Christians, lies beyond human ability once the number of people goes beyond a certain (and small) number. One will never achieve equality of the masses. To pretend such a feat only ends up with an elite ruling class lording it over a wretchedness of the masses. Dictatorships of the Proletariat might looks good on parchment in a statement of principles, but they never work. We get the nightmares of Orwellian Big Brothers. Unchecked capitalism without exception ends up rewarding the cheaters, schemers, and those who carpetbag their way to wealth, the rest be damned. It’s clear, then, that the left and right must both move toward center if society has any chance of order and stability as well as a modicum of liberty.

Capitalistic economies have been by far the more successful because, unlike communism, it accounts for human greed, that universal impulse of the human heart. It stands to reason, then, that for all practical purposes, the best system leans off center but decidedly to the right. This avoids authoritarianism (totalitarianism, fascism, dictatorship, or monarchy) and the unprincipled odysseys of unchecked freedom.

Consequently, if we think of the comm-cap scale as a continuum, with total communism as 0 on the left and unmodified capitalism as 100 on the right, probably a 75 would be optimal. For comparison, we would put Massachuetts probably at 40, with Pittsfield being hooked on public treasuries of city, state, and federalism at 25, maybe below, reflective as it is of a political economy with far too few good-paying jobs, oppressive taxation, central planning, and out-of-control government spending. As that “25” keeps falling, it spells the inevitable collapse of a once fine small city.

We’d love to hear your thoughts.

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“Few things are less necessary when walking around the moon than knowing what time it is in Houston, Texas” —Buzz Aldrin, second man to walk on the moon.

“OPEN THE WINDOW, AUNT MILLIE.”

LOVE TO ALL.

The views and opinions expressed in the comment section or in the text other than those of PLANET VALENTI are not necessarily endorsed by the operators of this website. PLANET VALENTI assumes no responsibility for such views and opinions, and it reserves the right to remove or edit any comment, including but not limited to those that violate the website’s Rules of Conduct and its editorial policies. PLANET VALENTI shall not be held responsible for the consequences that may result from any posted comment or outside opinion or commentary as provided in Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act and this website’s terms of service. All users of this website — including readers, commentators, contributors, or anyone else making use of its information hereby agree to these conditions by virtue of this notice. When PLANET VALENTI ends with the words “The Usual Disclaimer,” that phrase shall be understood to refer to the full text of this disclaimer.